The WNBA trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET Sunday saw the Los Angeles Sparks trade five‑time All‑Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury after a quiet week. The move was teased Saturday night and confirmed early Sunday.

Mercury’s trade, graded B, hinges on keeping Plum beyond 2026. The star, who averaged 23.9 points this season, is a two‑time champion and a 2017 first‑round pick. The team now has a potential backcourt with Kahleah Copper and Plum, both five‑time all‑stars. The risk: an expiring one‑year deal and a first‑round pick gone.

Sparks, graded B+, lost a cornerstone while also gaining a young guard, Monique Akoa Makani, and a 2027 first‑round pick. With a 10‑17 record, they must win 12 of 17 to reach .500 and miss the playoffs. The trade frees cap space and draft capital, but the loss of Plum may mean the season was a failed venture.